With the coming release of Disney's sure-fire sci-fi smash TRON: Legacy, Marvel Comics has come up with a rockin' cross-promotional concept that joins the coolest names in the Marvel U with the aesthetic awesomeness that is TRON's digital in-game environments.

We had a chance to speak with the man who was integral in the creation of this project, Ruwan Jayatilleke, Senior Vice President, Development & Planning, Print, Animation and Digital Media for Marvel Comics.

MTV Geek!: What prompted your decision to merge the Marvel Universe with TRON in these variant covers?

Ruwan Jayatilleke: It’s always been seen as an opportunity for Marvel Publishing and The Walt Disney Pictures franchise team to collaborate and create a very cool visualization for a common demographic within comic book stores. I wouldn’t say that it’s merging of Marvel Universe and TRON. It’s more about taking two visually engaging aesthetics and approaches to content creation, and producing an inspired take on Marvel characters for the benefit and entertainment of our common fanbases. Of course, driving awareness and inciting buzz is always welcome. With the 3-D hi-tech action adventure “TRON: Legacy” hitting the big screen on December 17, 2010—we, collectively, had enough lead time to produce these amazing covers and put some promotional muscle behind them.

Geek!: How did you choose which books to include in this cross-promotion?

RJ: It was based on on-sale scheduling, how much the chosen characters lent themselves to being “Tronified” and making sure that this collaboration was being used high-circ’ing comic book titles. Obviously there was a bit of outrageous nerdery within Marvel Publishing as to which characters would undergo “Tronification.”

Geek!: Will there be any further crossovers between Marvel and TRON?

RJ: Hmmm. “Crossover” might be misleading. However I wouldn’t count out another brilliant synergistic effort by Marvel Publishing and The Walt Disney Pictures franchise team. We’re always looking for unique ways to extend the experience and exposure to visual storytelling.

Geek!: Which Marvel hero or villain do you think would fare the best in competition in TRON?

In terms of “TRON: Legacy” and the incredible things Disney is doing with the property across platforms and lines of business, I would say it’s a combination of forging ahead in filmmaking with avant-garde, cutting-edge technology while still being a story-driven film with a relatable story and complex characters.

It’s as much about the audience being immersed in this visually-engaging digital world as it about creating a narrative connection with fans. I believe the small glimpses that we’ve gotten of “TRON: Legacy” is the reason for the huge resurgence in all things TRON.

Thanks very much to Mr. Jayatilleke and Marvel for the fun opportunity!

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